Toe shield



Aug. .18, 1931.

S. CAPEZIO TOE SHIELD Filed Aug. 5. 1930 /INVENTOR Salvaiore Q BY ATT Patented Aug. 18, 1931 images P A- -TE N-T Dammit-:

SALVA'BOREQCAPEZ'IQWOE,EAST rATnason nnwimnsmr 7 l'ron, SHIELD Application filed August 5, 1930. Serial no./ 73,1a2. c

This invention relates toa toe shield} rcushion, and more particularly tosuch a deviceito be used by we dancers;

Intoe dancing or ballet-dancing considerable strain is placed on the toe portion of the footofthe dancer, and this-istrue-regardless ofWhetherballetslippers or toe slippers are used. In anattemptto relieve the dancer from this strain and the attendant pain, 'it- 10 has been the practice to employ slippers considerably larger thanthe foot and to insert a filling of lambs Wool in the toe of the slipper. This filling, however, is soft only at first, and soon packs dovvn and hardens. It also tendsto move around in the slipper and consequently is often made ineffective. The lambs Wool ordinarily inust be replaced With a fresh supplyf each time the slippers are WOIII;

is made of-solid rubber, it is difficultto obtain a maximum degree of resilience or yieldability so as to'cushion thefoot of the dancer? 5 With the desired effectiveness; Accordingly,

one object ofthe present invention isfto improve the cushioning effect of a rubber toe shield, and this-I have found may be accomplished by hollowing the outer surfac'eof the' 40 forward end-ofthe cushion soasto form-a recess or concavity or air pocket. With such a construction I find that the natural ,r'esilis ency of the rubber material may; be fully utilized and that the cushioning effectobtained is superior to that obtainedsvvith nevv- 1y inserted lambs Wool, andis far superior to that obtainable witha solid bo'dyof rubber.

Asa resultiof the inconvenience and untion of the foot oftheklancer. As heretofore constructed, such a device Would encompass and-rather closely fit the toeportion of the foot-j WVhen the Weight'of the dancer .is placedon the toe of they foot, the toe portion of the foot spreads laterally and is consequently. bound by the toe shieldl This is directlyinjurious tothe footyand after a fevv'ininutesof use becomes indirectly in jurious to the footbecause'ofthe resulting perspiration and total absence of ventilation. Incidentally, such -a 'constructi-onisincon venient-because numeroussizes'of toe shield" must be provided corresponding to'the va v rious sizes of foot and slipper,

Further objects of my invention are to overcome'all of the foregoing difficulties and to provide afltoe shiel'd'which Will not hug and bind thetoe portion of the'foot; which Will'sustain and protectthe' toe portion'o-f the foot when on the toe, but Which is released from close contactwith'the foot When on the/sole; Whichwill permit air to circulate around the foot; and Which will be of such a nature that a single size ofshield maybeused for the entire ran'ge'of sizes offoot and slipper. With these-objects in-view, a portion of the cup-shaped shield, preferably the" bottom or sole portion, and, if desired; the top portion also, is cutaway in order to per mit-the" sides of the shield to readily move laterally? Withoutbinding' the. 3 foot 7 of the dancer; The shield is free o'ngthe foot ,of the dancer'and also is free Within the'slipper.

.When the Weight ofthejdanceris placed on the toe, the'spreadof the foot causes it to bear against the sides of the-cushion, Which in turn bear against the sid'esof the slipper, thereby protectively housing-the toe portion" of the foot Wlien,-ho\vever, the dancer'- rests on thesole ofthe foot, thev side pressure isimmediatelyrelieved, and the {it between" thefoot, the' sides of the'shield, and the sides of the slipper-is sufi iciently'free'to facilitate ventilation of-c-thefoot Because of the downward movementof the foot Vvvh en on the toe, together Witlrthe V I expansion thereof laterally, there is a tend- Thetoe shield ordinarily comprises a cup-' shapeddeviceadapted'to receive the toe por J ency for the top ofthe shield to turn 'in-" Wardly and 1 to "cut into and bind the foot.

This is particularly true at the upper portion of the shield. Another object of the present invention is to overcome this fault, and for this purpose the edge portion of the shield is turned outwardly, or, more specifically, the edge of the upper portion of the shield is turned upwardly. In actual use the pres sure of the foot may cause the outwardly turned edge to be flattened against the inner surface of the slipper, but the edge can never turn inwardly and cut into the foot.

It has previously been pointed out that one of the important faults of rubber shields resides in their tendency to cause excessive and when the shield is compressed or released,

as when the foot changes from sole to toe or from toe to sole, air is forced through the shield and around the toe portion of the foot, thereby effectively ventilating the same. Additional perforations are placed in the sides 7 of the shield, and the spreading or lateral movement of the same when the foot changes from sole to toe or vice versaalso tends to cause free ventilation of the foot.

. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the toe shield or cushion elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more par ticularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned plan view of a shield embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. l'iS a plan view of a toe slipper in which my shield hasbeen placed; and

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned elevation of the same when on the toe.

Referring to the drawings, my toe shield the dancing slipper. When the weight of the dancer is placed on the toe, the concavity 16 permits the resilient material of the shield to yield freely, and, if desired, this cushioning effect may be enhanced by reason of the air cushion obtained as a result of air being trapped in the concavity 16. In the present form of the invention this air cushioning effect is intentionally neglected in order to obtain forced air circulation and ventilation in a manner subsequently explained.

From the forward edge 14 of the shield, the material is gradually and smoothly tapered down to an exceedingly thin or feather edge 18 at the rear of the shield. A portion of the cup-shaped shield is cut away to permit the sides to readily move laterally without binding the foot of the dancer. For this purpose it is preferable to cut away the bottom or sole portion of the shield, as is indicated at 20. Here, also, the rubber-material is tapered off into a line edge so that the foot of the dancer is not subjected to any noticeable ridge.-

The sides of the shield extend back from the tip of the shield further than the box of a conventional box toe dancing slipper, so that if the slipper has been poorly made and has a noticeable stiff edge at the termination of the box, the sides of the shield will protect and cushion the foot against such an edge when the foot is on the toe.

The upper portion of the shield is also preferably cut away, as is indicated at 24, for

several reasons. In the first place, this facilitates the desired lateral movement or expansion of the sides of the shield. In the second place, it;reduces the area of the toe portion of the foot surrounded by rubber and therefore reduces. perspiration, and increases ventilation. In the third place, it insures that the shield will not project beyond the edge of the ballet slipper thereby exposing it to view. In the fourth place, by cutting away the upper portion of the shield to a considerable extent, it is possible to so proportions. single size of shield that it may be used with any sizeof slipper. This accommodation of a wide range of size is made possible because the shield rests'against the inner face of the toe of the slipper on the peripheral edge 14 and need not contact with the slipper at any other point. I The sides of the shield readily expand to accommodate different sizes of foot, and if the upper portion is cut away in the manner just described so as not to be visible when placed in a small size slipper, a single size of shield suffices for all sizes of slipper. A smaller size shield may, if desired, be provided for small children.

To prevent the upper edge of the shield from cutting into the foot, which would ordinarily take place because of the movement ofthe foot toward the tip of the shield when i 1,s19,7ee= V on the 'toe,'.accon1panied by the? simultaneous:

expansion of the; ;foot, 1 the: {edge is initially turned outward drupward, asis indicatedat 26. Thislupturningyof .the1.ed 'e is carriedbackward, entirely r along ;the sidhs of .the cut away portion 24:. The resulting edge is flattened against the" inner surface of the; slipper when the weightiof the: dancer is .onthe .toe,.

as is bestshown inFigi .5, butt-his edge can never turn in'so far as to cut into thetoot. A siniilari; precaution 1 may; be taken at the lootto'moi the shield; but this. 1 have. found is unnecessary, "for the weight of the .dancer rests 1 constantly against the: lower, surface of the shielch, and even. when the: .footis on the toe'there is no tendency for the;bottom;edges.- to cut into the foot, Iforsthevexpansion and vide the shield with a plurality otvents or.

perforations 30 distributed along the sides of the shield. These vents function not only.

to perinitair circulation, but becaiise of the nature of the present shield and itsaction during the dance, there is a positive tendency to circulate air, through the; vents.

explain this further, attention is directed to-.

Fignt in which it will bemhservedthat the outer surfaceofthe sides .22 of the shield are spaced fromv the innerwallsfi t oitthetoe slip-,

per in which the shielcl is p'laced. In tact the shieldvhears against theslippertonly at;

the forward periphery 14cwhich rests 'on the;

inner wall .3 6at the toeot the slipper. .Nhen

thedanceris resting on the sole of-theufo'ot,

the foot is relatively. free in the! shield, inasinuch asthe sides of the shieldanay readily spread apart, and the sidesofthe; shield (are themselves, relatively free in the. slipper. When the weightof the dancerzis placed on the toe of the foot, the foot spreads into .con- 2, tact withthe sides'22 of the shield and, they in turn spread into contact with the side walls-34 oftheslipper. During the changes.

from. sole to .toe and viceyersa in the-dance,

the result-inp; lateral movement of the sides ofthe-shield tends to=circulate air through thewents 30. and around the toe. portion} of.

the foot.

It has previously been eXplainedJthatthe concavity 16 at the tip oithe shield increases theiresiliency.andyieldability of the'forward.

end thereof. :It has also-been mentionedthat the; air trapped inthe. concavity 16 may, if

desiirech bemused for. its additional cushion-a ing effect. -In.the-pr esent case an additional perforation or vent 38 is provided in the for.-

ward-surface otthe shield through'whichair I is circulated to- -f-urthenventilatezthe toot of: the dancer. It will}heevident.-iirorn:the tore going description, or; from a comparison of Figs. 3 or 4 otthe drawingsiwith Fig"; 5,- that the vo-luinehof the" ,reces'sizor. concavity 16: is considerably" diminished when the-weight: of theudancenis placed on the toe,,and.is againi restored vwhen -=tl1e1.weight of .tllBff dancer! is placed on-the sole of theifooti- This changein volume .eiiectively punipse air through thei vent. .38 :and around the' toe iportion'ot the: footofthe: dancerav I i The manner in. which thel-itoe. shieldvorl cushion of my invention may the; constructed and .used and the many advantages thereof, will itis thonght be apparent fron the tore goingdetailed clescriptionthereof. Thetoe; cushion is far superior to alamlos wool .because it does not harden and cannot IIlQVG'fiXOHIlCl within the slipper.- It may: be used over and over again and may be moved from slipper to-slipper, andxi'n fact may be'used in ditier- I entisizes of slipper; :Asmaller size of slipper maybe .used than when cushioning with lainhs wool, for only a half size need be al-' lowed. for the. shield, whereasit is customary toallow two half sizes or a full-size'forthe Thesides of the shield are carried back Sllffiic'iently far to protect the foot against; poorly:

niadetoe slippers andto distribute therweight of the dancer over alarge areazwhen. on the toe; and .yethuggingand binding ofthe foot are prevented ibecause:therupper. and lower pontions .fofthe' shield are very largely cut away. This construction'aidsventilation of thegfoot, and additional air: circulation is pro-. v

*vided-ina positive manner by thesprovision ofventsproperly located to take advantage "of the movement of the shield jcaused hy-shift-f ingz oftheweight of thedancer from the sole toitheztoe or vice versa. The edgesiof the shield are tapered andreduced ll'lithlCkIIQSS so as vnotto form-a noticeableridge and the upper edge is turned iipwardly toprevent it from fcuttingiintdthez foot. 1

and described. my inventionin the preferred form, many changes and modifications may.

be made .in the: structure rdisclosed. without. departing from the spirit of. the linvention defined. in the following claims. 7 Iclai-m:

1; A shield or cushionior toe dancers, the

outer surface of the forward end of which is hollowed. out to form-1a concavesurface so as to increase the: yielding cushion.

2. A shield ior cushionyfor toe dancers-come prising cup-shapedrdevice made of a resil ient er'naterial fonreceivingifthe'toe portion of:

. 1 15 i It will be apparent that while I have shown i effect of said the foot of a dancer, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form a concave surface so as to increase the yielding effect of saidcushion.

3. A shield or cushion for toe dancers comprising a cup-shaped device made of a resilient material, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form a concave, readily yieldable supporting surface, the resulting concavity being provided with a perforation through which air is circulated when the cushion is compressed or released.

4. A shield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoe used by the dancer, said cushion comprising a cup-shaped device made of a soft resilient material the bottom or sole portion of which is cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, without binding the foot of the dancer, and the edge of the upper portion of which is feathered and turned upwardly to prevent the same from binding the foot of the dancer.

5. Ashield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoe used by the dancer, said cushion comprising a cupshaped device made of a soft resilient material the top and bottom surfaces of which are cut away for a substantial distance in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, without binding the foot of the dancer, and the rear edges of which are feathered down to a thin edge.

6. A shield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoeused by the dancer, said cushion comprising a cupshaped device made of a soft resilient material the top and bottom surfaces of which are cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, and the edge of the upper portion of which is feathered and turned upwardly to prevent the same from binding the foot of the dancer.

7. A shield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoe used by the dancer, said cushion comprising a cupshaped device made of a soft resilient material the top and bottom surfaces of which are cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, the said sides extending back from the toe substantially further than the box or reinforcedtoe portion of a conventional box toe dancing slipper.

8. A-shield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoe used by. the dancer, said cushion comprising a cupshaped device made of a soft resilient material the top and bottom surfaces of which are cut away in order to permit thesides of the device to readily move laterally,the edge of theupper portion being turned upwardly to-prevent the same from binding the foot of the dancer, and the resulting sides extending back from the toe substantially further than the box or reinforced toe portion of a conventional box toe dancing slipper.

9. A shield or cushion for toe dancers comprising a cup-shaped device made of a resilient material, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form'a concave surface so as to increase the yielding effect of said cushion, and the top and bottom surfaces of said device being cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally.

10. A shield or cushion for toe dancers comprising a cup-shaped device made of a resilient material, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form a concave surface so as to increase the yielding effect of said cushion, the top and bottom surfaces of said device being cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, and the edge of the upper cut away portion being turned upwardly to prevent the same from binding the foot of the dancer.

11. A shield or cushion for toe dancers designed for insertion into the toe portion of the ballet slipper or toe shoe used by the dancer, said cushion comprising a cupshaped device made of a soft resilient material, the top and bottom surfaces of said device being cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, the sides extending back substantially further than the box or reinforced toe portion of a conventional box toe dancing slipper, and said device being provided with a plurality of ventilating holes through which air may circulate when the weight of the dancer is shifted from the sole to the toe and vice versa.

12. A shield or cushion for toe dancers comprising a cup-shaped device made of a resilient material, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form a concave surface so as to increase the yielding eifect of said cushion, and the top and bottom surfaces of said device being cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, said device being provided with a plurality of ventilating holes through which air may circulate when the weight of the dancer is shifted from the sole to the toe and vice versa.

13. A shield or cushion for toe dancers comprising a cup-shaped device made of a resilient material, the outer surface of the forward end of said device being hollowed out to form a concave surface so as to increase the yielding effect of said cushion, the top and bottom surfaces of said device being cut away in order to permit the sides of the device to readily move laterally, the edge of the upper portion being turned upwardly to prevent the same from binding the foot of the dancer,rand the resulting sides'extending back from the toe further than the boX of a conventional boX toe dancing'slipper, said device being provided with a plurality of ventilating holes through which v air may circulate when the Weight of thedancer is shifted from the sole to the toe and vice versa.

- Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 4th day of August A. D. 1930. V

SALVATORE CAPEZIO.

so e 

